Ecclesiastes 9:16
And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
Majority Standard Bible
In The King James Version
In Context
17The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
Cross References
Proverbs 10:15The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
Proverbs 24:5A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
Ecclesiastes 9:18Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
Mark 6:2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?
John 9:24So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”
James 2:2Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in.
Matthew Henry on Ecclesiastes 9:14-18
The Advantages of Wisdom. 13 This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14 There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15 Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17 The words of… Read the whole commentary →